Watson Gleason Playground

WATSON GLEASON BOUNCES AWAY WITH $1 MILLION RENOVATION

Photo by Malcolm Pinckney

Clouds loomed overhead, but it
was anticipation that filled the air. "Is the President here yet?" eagerly
inquired one second-grader, as he and his fellow CS47 classmates took their
seats. On Thursday, September 24, Commissioner Benepe, joined Bronx Borough
Commissioner Dottie Lewandowski, Council Member Rev. Ruben Diaz, and his son
Assembly Member Ruben Diaz to officially cut the ribbon for the $1 million
reconstruction of Watson Gleason Playground in the south Bronx.

For the first time ever,
Watson Gleason Playground has a seating area for park patrons to enjoy.
Athletes of all ages can challenge their skills on the new basketball and
handball courts. Parks has beautified
the entrance area and repaired the sidewalk and interior drainage system. Shrubs, ground cover, and trees including
Eastern redbud and serviceberry have been planted to bring shade and more
greenery to the playground. The completion of Watson Gleason Playground marks
the end of a two-phase project. Phase I, completed in 1999, included the
addition of new swings, play equipment, game tables, benches and more.

To celebrate Watson Gleason's
latest additions, the children delighted the crowd with a stellar performance
of "Yankee Doodle," complete with hand motions. In turn, Commissioner
Benepe delighted the children with a rousing rendition of the SpongeBob
SquarePants theme song. During the ceremony, Commissioner Benepe remarked,
"Children make up 25% of our population, but they are 100% of our
future."

Thank you to former Council
Member Lucy Cruz for funding this $1 million renovation. Parks Landscape
Architect Bob Cook oversaw the design vision of Vollmer Associates while Parks
Resident Engineer Anthony Williams worked with PMS Construction to create this
new and improved park. Officer Dais of the 43rd Precinct, Elba Pena, Chair of
Community Board 9 and Nancy Barthold, Assistant Commissioner for Capital
Projects were also on hand for the ribbon cutting.

As the ceremony came to a
close, and the adults begin to clean off the cookie crumbs, the children were
already hard at play on the handball courts. Grinning from ear to ear, the students
tossed their pink bouncy balls, courtesy of Operation's Meet the Manager
Program, into the air. Despite the
clouds looming overhead, it's safe to say that everyone had a ball at the
Watson Gleason Playground Ribbon Cutting.

Written by Jocelyn Aframe

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT(Tuesday, October
24, 1989)

NEW HIKING TRAIL OPENS IN PELHAM BAY PARK

The abundant beauty of Pelham
Bay Park has become more accessible to lovers of hiking and nature. After four years of combined effort by the
Appalachian Mountain Club and Parks, the six-mile Siwanoy Trail opened in
Pelham Bay Park on Saturday, October 21.

“This is the fourth major trail
opened in the Bronx under my administration,” said Commissioner Stern, at the
ribbon cutting ceremony near the historic Bartow-Pell Mansion. Kate Whitney
Bukofzer of the New York-New Jersey Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Urban
Trails Subcommittee also unveiled a new sign marking the trail.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"What the philosopher is
seeking is not truth,
but rather the metamorphosis of the world into man.”